Start of Summer Meme

Toby Brown at Classical Presbyterian created a Start of Summer meme and tagged me. Looks like fun, so here goes:

1.) What first tells you that Summer is here?
Heat and humidity.

2.) Name your five of your favorite distinctively Summer habits or customs.
~ grilling outside
~ having parties around our pool
~ sitting outside on the porch in the evening with the ceiling fans going full blast
~ swimming
~ going to the coast

3.) What is your favorite smell of Summer?
The Gulf breeze.

4.) What is your favorite taste of Summer?
Icy cold watermelon and Texas Chocolate Sheetcake

5.) Favorite Summer memory?
Family time on the beach or at the swimming pool.

6.) Extreme heat or extreme cold? Which would you choose and why?
Heat. I'm used to heat--I grew up in San Antonio and have lived most of my adult life in muggy Houston. I spent 4 years in college in upstate New York and found extreme cold almost paralyzing.

7.) What books do you plan to read for the season?

Knowing God by J. I. Packer (reading it to prepare to lead my BSD group next fall)
Under The Banner of Heaven by John Krakauer (recommended by my brother)
How Africa Shaped The Christian Mind by Thomas Oden (just started it and not sure I'll finish it because the author seems to belabor the obvious)
Lamentations of the Father by Ian Frazier (I just began this collection of humorous essays--the title essay was so funny tears were running down my face)
Still working on Dallas Willard's The Divine Conspiracy. It's hard to read on your own.
Whatever else strikes my fancy along the way....

8.) How does the Summer affect your faith? Is it a hindrance or an ally?
It is definitely an ally. It's so important to take a break from the busy-ness of being involved in the church. The slower pace encourages more prayer and devotional time, too.

And what use is a meme if it isn't passed around? Let's see...

Presbyterian Gal, Mary Beth, zorra, Ruby and St. Casserole.

TAG! You're it!